Date/Time: Thursday, 9:30-12:00; HYBRID COURSE Instructor: Ian Derk Office: 144, NAU-Yavapai Campus, Prescott Valley Office

Hours: Before and after class Email: Ian.Derk@nau.edu COURSE DESCRIPTION: Required Materials: Niven, D. (2002) Tilt? The Search for Media Bias (ebrary) Postman, N. (2006 ed.) Amusing ourselves to death: Public discourse in the age of show business. (Other editions acceptable) Singh, R. (2003) American government and politics: A concise introduction (ebrary) Wolfsfeld, G. (2011) Making sense of media and politics: Five principles in political communication Recommended Materials: A webcam A Netflix account, library card, or access to a video rental place Course Description: Explores dynamics between politics, power, and the press. Topics include the role and influence of media, agenda setting, changing press environments, and media skills for community issues and initiatives. Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes: After successfully completing this course students should be able to: Understand how the press define, shape, reinforce, and transform peoples political ideas, economic ideologies, and policy preferences Uncover examples and sources of media bias in the presentation of political and community issues Describe how public officials, organizations and interest groups use the mass media to communicate with the public Compare and contrast the different strategies by which citizens can influence and utilize the power of the press Recognize alternative forms of media and their impact on politics

Analyze and critically assess the messages you encounter in the media Understand the ways in which you can take a more active part in learning and communicating about issues in your community

Politics, Media, and Civility: This course, by its nature, deals with politics, media, and how that relates to citizen engagement. The course touches on issues of belief, war, death, rights, economics, citizenship, sex, death, and all the things that go into political life in the 21st century. Because this course deals with sensitive issues, its critical to understand that we must approach them with good manners and tact. Consider this course as practice for relating and discussing issues with people who are different from you. Fair and Balanced: This course attempts to find the best possible material to explain concepts, understand perspectives, and comprehend the actions of various actors. I strive to find examples from different kinds of writers, perspectives, and actors. However, my primary goal is to present the best possible course, not to give every perspective equal time. One professor I had called this issue The Holocaust Denier Defense: An idea that an issue may have more than one perspective, but not every perspective is of equal validity. The course attempts to expose you to many points of view, but its impossible to expose the class to everything. Everything in the course is presented as well-researched and thoughtful, but its not Truth. Workload: This is an upper-division course within a specialization. This course will be a lot of work. If you regularly spend more than 11 hours a week on your assignments, please see me. Otherwise, you need to budget enough time for this course. Hybrid Classes and Technology: This course is partly online and partly in-person. In order to pass this course, you must complete both online and in-person components. Most of the things you need will be available through the Blackboard shell for this course. NAU-Yavapai has numerous computers on-campus. We recommend you use Mozilla Firefox for Blackboard. Be sure to empty your cache regularly, for this can help you avoid many problems. When using online pieces, be sure to have a stable Internet connection. We have discovered that many smart phones and tablets have issues with Blackboard, so we advise students to complete certain items (like quizzes and posts) on a computer with a stable Internet connection. Because we have recommended particular resources and have provided you with those resources, I will promise to support issues stemming from the use of those resources. I may not support technical issues from your home, office, or other system. This course requires the use of two books found on the eBrary system. This can be accessed through the Cline Library.
Reading Quizzes: 100 Points Twitter Assignment: 75 Points Political Background: 10 Points Film Assignment: 40 Points Political Ad: 125 Points

GRADING:

450 or more = A 400-449 = B 350-399 = C 300-349 = D

Amusing Ourselves to Death: 50 Points Local Issue Paper: 100 Points

299 or less = F

Refer to the textboxes above for points. S/U grading is not available. Most assignments will have unique grading criteria, so consider assignment sheets an extension of the syllabus. Outlines for certain speeches are graded along with the speech content. Refer to specific assignment sheets for directions on grading. In general, grades work in the following manner: A. Excellent work. The student produced exemplary work. B. Above-average work. The student produced work that exceeds expectations. C. Average work. The student produced work that meets expectations. D. Below-average work. The student was unable to meet expectations.. F. Insufficient or unacceptable work. The student failed to meet expectations by a large margin. If you have questions about an assignments grade, you must obey the 24/7 rule. Students must wait at least 24 hours before asking questions about a grade or setting an appointment, but any assignment more than a week old (seven days) will not be discussed. ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend all sessions. A student missing sessions will lose points for participation that day. Students are responsible for obtaining any information from a colleague. Students missing more than TWO class periods will be dropped from the course. Tardiness or early exits will count as an absence. A student with an unpredictable circumstance beyond his/her control should contact the instructor as soon as possible. LATE WORK: Late work is not accepted. Any late assignments will receive a zero. CELL PHONES, PAGERS, AND LAPTOPS: NAU-Yavapai is committed to providing a quality learning environment. All cell phones and pagers must be placed in a non-audible mode while in classrooms, computer labs, the library, the learning center, and testing areas. Cell phones and pagers need to be used outside these facilities. Students caught texting in class may be asked to leave. These students will lose participation points for that day. Repeat violators of this policy face severe penalties. Laptops are welcome so long as they do not cause a distraction to others. BLACKBOARD AND EMAIL: We will use Blackboard for some assignments, course information, and grading. Since this is a hybrid course, students should check Blackboard on a regular basis. Most emails sent through Blackboard will arrive at an NAU email account, so students should check that email regularly. Students emailing the instructor should expect a response within one business day. Student Conduct: This course deals with the ideas of other people. Because we will be exposed to new and controversial themes, its important that we respect the views of other people. You have every right to disagree and express that disagreement, but you must be civil. Also, arrive on-time, minimize interruptions, put your phone away, and use laptops only with my prior approval. The Student Code of Conduct (available on the NAU website at https://azregents.asu.edu/rrc/Policy%20Manual/5-308-Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct.pdf and Yavapai Colleges website at http://www2.yc.edu/content/humanresources/employeetoolkit/codeofconductchoice.htm#code)

outlines behavioral expectations, and explains the process for responding to allegations of student misconduct. Academic Integrity, Plagiarism and Cheating: Copying any work that is not your own, without acknowledging the source, is both a moral and legal violation. Please read the guidelines for Academic Integrity on NAUs website (http://home.nau.edu/studentlife/handbook/appendix_g.asp) and Yavapai Colleges website (http://www2.yc.edu/content/admissions/NewTemplate/AcademicIntegrity.htm). For some excellent and clear examples of plagiarism, see http://www2.yc.edu/content/libraryservices/diagnosis-plagiarism.htm, http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml, and http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/. Common sources of plagiarism are the work of other students, professors, published authors, speakers and internet sources. Minimum consequence for plagiarism in this course is failure of the assignment, and may well result in failure of the course, depending on the nature of the infraction. There is the possibility of even more severe sanctions, including expulsion from NAU-Yavapai. This is a serious issue in the academic community because it involves what is legally termed as intellectual property. NOTE: Failure to read or understand this syllabus, the Academic Integrity guidelines, or understand the various types of plagiarism and cheating DOES NOT constitute an excuse for the violating of Academic Integrity. Withdrawal Policy: You may withdraw from this class before March 26 without any effect to your transcripts. Withdrawing after March 26 but before April 2 will add a W to your transcript. If you intend to withdraw, but have not withdrawn from the class by this student initiated withdrawal date, you will receive the grade based on points earned or performance goals (e.g. a student with 660 points and completed four orange-box requirements gets a D). Student Support Services: NAU/Yavapai offers additional student support at the campus Think Tank. Services provided include tutoring (by appointment), master-student mentorship, and writing support. The Think Tank is located in Room 150 and hours will be posted outside the door. Students are encouraged to contact Tiffany (Learning Center Coordinator) with their specific needs/questions at Tiffany.Antone@nau.edu or 928-771-6170. For additional students needsdisability, health services, etc.please contact Nancy Jensen in her office (Room 134), by email at Nancy.Jensen@nau.edu , or call 928-771-6148 University Policies: Safe Environment Policy NAUs Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety of all individuals within the university. The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status and to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault or retaliation by anyone at this university. You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college deans office or from the NAUs Affirmative Action website http://home.nau.edu/diversity/. If you have concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact the departmental chair, deans office, the Office of Student Life (928523-5181), or NAUs Office of Affirmative Action (928-523-3312). Students with Disabilities If you have a documented disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting Disability Resources (DR) at 523-8773 (voice)or 523-6906 (TTY), dr@nau.edu (e-mail)or 928523-8747 (fax).Students needing academic accommodations are required to register with DR

and provide required disability related documentation. Although you may request an accommodation at any time, in order for DR to best meet your individual needs, you are urged to register and submit necessary documentation (www.nau.edu/dr) 8 weeks prior to the time you wish to receive accommodations. DR is strongly committed to the needs of student with disabilities and the promotion of Universal Design. Concerns or questions related to the accessibility of programs and facilities at NAU may be brought to the attention of DR or the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (523-3312). Institutional Review Board Any study involving observation of or interaction with human subjects that originates at NAU including a course project, report, or research papermust be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the protection of human subjects in research and researchrelated activities. The IRB meets monthly. Proposals must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the monthly meeting. You should consult with your course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project needs to be reviewed by the IRB and/or to secure information or appropriate forms and procedures for the IRB review. Your instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for approval by the IRB. The IRB categorizes projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from further review, expedited review, or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt from further review, you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB review as long as there are no modifications in the exempted procedures. A copy of the IRB Policy and Procedures Manual is available in each departments administrative office and each college deans office or on their website: http://www.research.nau.edu/vpr/IRB/index.htm. If you have questions, contact the IRB Coordinator in the Office of the Vice President for Research at 928-523-8288 or 523-4340. Academic Contact Hour Policy The Arizona Board of Regents Academic Contact Hour Policy (ABOR Handbook, 2-206, Academic Credit) states: an hour of work is the equivalent of 50 minutes of class timeat least 15 contact hours of recitation, lecture, discussion, testing or evaluation, seminar, or colloquium as well as a minimum of 30 hours of student homework is required for each unit of credit. SENSITIVE COURSE MATERIALS University education aims to expand student understanding and awareness. Thus, it necessarily involves engagement with a wide range of information, ideas, and creative representations. In the course of college studies, students can expect to encounterand critically appraisematerials that may differ from and perhaps challenge familiar understandings, ideas, and beliefs. Students are encouraged to discuss these matters with faculty.

Week

Dates

Readings In Defense of Political Journalism; In No One We Trust; Epistemic Closure, Technology, and the End of Distance; Niven 4 Singh 3, 6-8 Singh 9,10, 11; Obama's Deal Wolfsfeld 1,2 Wolfsfeld 3,4 Wolfsfeld 5; Control Room (Film) Street Fight (Film) Postman Postman

Quiz

Twitter

Assignments

Discussion Topics

Week 1

May 7-11

NO

NO

Introduction/Bias

Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9

May 14-18 May 21-25 May 29-June 1 June 4-June 8 June 11-June 15 June 18-June 22 June 25-June 29 July 2-6

YES YES YES NO YES NO YES NO

NO YES YES YES YES NO NO NO

Political History: Twitter Set-Up Film Assignment Local Issue Proposal Ad Storyboard; Local Issue Draft Peer Response; Twitter Paper

Political Actors/NO CLASS Government in Action Media History/Theory Media and Campaigns Media Abroad Local Media The Voter

Week 10

July 9-13

Postman

NO

NO

Ad Paper, Local Issue Final Amusing Ourselves to Death

Media and Voting Your Ads and Conclusions

May 2012
SUNDAY MONDAY
1

TUESDAY
2

WEDNESDAY
3

THURSDAY
4

FRIDAY
5

SATURDAY

7 Readings

10

11

12

13

14Political History: 11:59 PM Singh 3, 6-8

15

16 Quiz: Noon

17

18 Twitter Set-Up: 11:59 PM

19

20

21Film Responses: 11:59 PM Singh 9, 10, 11; Obamas Deal

22

23 Quiz: Noon

24

25 Twitter: 11:59 PM

26

27

28 Wolfsfeld 1,2

29

30 Quiz: Noon

31 Local Issue Proposal: In-Class

June 2012
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
1 Twitter: 11:59 PM

FRIDAY
2

SATURDAY

4 Wolfsfeld 3,4

7 Ad Storyboard: InClass

8 Twitter: 11:59 PM

10

11 Wolfsfeld 5 Film Screening TBD

12

13 Quiz: Noon

14Local Issue Draft: In-Class

15 Twitter: 11:59 PM

16

17

18 Film Screening TBD

19

20

21Twitter Paper: InClass Peer Response: 11:59 PM

22

23

24

25 Postman Part I

26

27 Quiz: Noon

28

29

30

July 2012
SUNDAY
1 2 Postman Part II

MONDAY
3

TUESDAY
4

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY
5Ad Paper: In-Class Local Issue Final: 11:59 PM 12Ad Presentation: In-Class Amusing Ourselves to Death: 11:59 PM 13 6

FRIDAY
7

SATURDAY

INDEPENDENCE DAY: CAMPUS CLOSED 10 11

9 Postman III

14